Chinese water experts will visit Albury on Friday 14 March to inspect outstanding examples of water conservation. Hosted by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS) and the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre, the four officials will inspect the Wonga Wetlands and the University’s Thurgoona site as examples of successful wetland management and using wetlands to treat waste water in the region. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for Australian scientists to interact, discuss and exchange ideas with Chinese scientists,” said Professor Max Finlayson, ILWS director and internationally renowned wetland ecologist. The wetland project is part of a five year, $25 million Australian government initiative to support and improve policy development in China in environmental protection and natural resource management.

 

For interviews with ILWS director Professor Max Finlayson, contact ILWS Communication Manager Margrit Beemster on (02) 6051 9653 or CSU Media.

Escalating oil prices and climate change are factors forcing rural Australia to contemplate the implications of diminishing petroleum supplies and a local biofuel industry. The Institute for Land, Water and Society at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a public forum in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 12 March to address issues such as the implications of rising fuel costs and a biofuel industry on rural communities. Speakers include Professor Peter Sinclair, an environmental sociologist and oil industry analyst from Canada’s Memorial University of Newfoundland, and CSIRO biofuel researcher, Dr Barrie May. The forum, entitled Rural Australia without petroleum?, will be held from 6pm to 7.30pm in the Council meeting room, Civic Centre, Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga.

Australians may consume more native foods in the future as a result of new research to be discussed at the Functional Foods and Biotechnology Forum at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Orange Campus on Thursday 6 March. The research reveals that native plant foods have strong antimicrobial, antioxidant and emulsifying properties with potential applications in many mainstream food products. Addressing the forum about the functional properties of native foods will be Dr Jian Zhao from the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences. “Our research outcomes can potentially help the native food industry to add value to and better market their products and ultimately achieve growth beyond being a cottage industry,” said Dr Zhao. Researchers  from the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, an alliance between CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries,  have studied the functional or health-promoting properties of Australian native foods for several years, supported by the national Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Speakers from government and private sector functional food research and marketing organisations will address the forum which is hosted by CSU and the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.

 

To arrange interviews with Dr Zhao contact CSU Media. The Functional Foods and Biotechnology Forum will be held at the CSU Orange Campus conference room on Thursday 6 March.  Forum programs are available from Mr Jack Gordon at the NSW Department of State and Regional Development on 02 6360 8417.

 

Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews with Mr Gary Shipp. The National Indigenous Higher Education Network Committee will meet in Dubbo from 10am on Thursday 6 March and 9.30am on Friday 7 March. The NIHEN was recently granted Indigenous People’s Organisational status for the upcoming meeting of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York, USA, from 21 April to 2 May.

 

He competed in his first triathlon at the age of seven and has been training only for triathlons since he was 15 years old. Now 20, Nicholas Kastelein Jnr, a third year Bachelor of Human Movement (Rehabilitation) student at Charles Sturt University (CSU), is now the 18-19 years Australian Long Course Junior Triathlon Champion. He won the title at a race held at Huskisson on the NSW south coast on 24 February. The CSU student explained that “There was no qualifying for the event, just the confidence that such a long distance can be accomplished. The swim leg is two kilometres, cycling is 83 kilometres, and running is 20 kilometres. For the 105 kilometre long course racing, swimming is my strongest discipline with cycling my weakest, but when racing short distances (750m swim / 20kms cycle / 5kms run) these are reversed.” Nick was born and raised in Mudgee and started his degree at CSU’s Bathurst Campus two years ago. “My goal is to finish my CSU degree and pursue a career in triathlon as a professional, racing long or short course events, with my degree to fall back on.”

Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews with Nick Kastelein Jnr.

The development of leaders and managers within Charles Sturt University (CSU) will be recognised tonight, Tuesday 4 March, at a ceremony on the Wagga Wagga Campus. CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter will present an award acknowledging the efforts of nine staff following their successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in University Leadership and Management in 2006 and 2007. The group represents the second intake by the CSU School of Business and Information Technology. The Graduate Certificate in University Leadership and Management is offered to CSU staff with the aim of equipping current and future leaders with the knowledge, skill and confidence needed to support the University in achieving its strategic objectives.

 

The presentation will take place from 7pm in the Convention Centre, building 230, CSU, Wagga Wagga.

The most significant Southern Bell Frog population in NSW is responding well to 8 000 megalitres of environmental water flowing into the Murrumbidgee floodplain over recent weeks with breeding behaviour recorded at nearly every site, according to a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher. Dr Skye Wassens is monitoring the response of the frogs inhabiting wetlands between Maude and Balranald on the Lowbidgee Floodplain in inland NSW. The endangered Southern Bell Frog was abundant until recent years, and was in real danger of local extinction. “While the initial signs are encouraging, the small frog numbers located to date indicate a massive population decline over the past six years. Successful recruitment of young frogs and their survival to breeding age is needed for the population to recover and this is not guaranteed unless key wetlands remain full for at least four months and are flooded regularly in future years,” said Dr Wassens.

 

The NSW Department of Environmental and Climate Change (DECC) and CSU researchers will continue to monitor the endangered frog population. For interviews with Dr Skye Wassens contact CSU Media.

It is highly unlikely that there will be a fresh case of Equine Influenza (EI) but NSW horse owners must continue to comply with all movement restrictions, so that if a new case did occur it could be rapidly traced and controlled, according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) veterinary epidemiologist, Dr Petra Buckley.  The CSU School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences provided emergency assistance during the EI outbreak by sending epidemiologists, Dr Buckley and Dr Jan Lievaart, to the NSW Department of Primary Industries State Disease Control Headquarters at Orange.  Dr Buckley says “Testing so far has shown that NSW is free from EI, due to movement controls and the willingness of the horse industries to restrict their movements, which has been crucial in the fight against EI. The disease eradication program would have been much more difficult, perhaps impossible, if horse movements had not been restricted and tracked”. Because of the need to protect the disease-free areas, horse movements between zones are still restricted and no easing of any of these movement requirements is likely before the Special Restricted Area or purple zone is declared a disease-free green zone.

For interviews with Dr Petra Buckley, contact CSU Media.

Researchers from the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, an alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, are investigating whether perennial plants can improve the bottom line for meat and wool producers while protecting the environment of inland Australia. EverGraze is a national project, with four trials being conducted around Wagga Wagga in southern NSW. The trials are using summer-active perennials to increase the fertility rate in ewes and phalaris hedgerows or shrub belts to improve lamb survival. The study compares four farming systems based on perennial plants, that efficiently use feed for profit, as well as using shrub belts to intercept water running downhill. Results from the first two years of research shows improved nutrition for ewes and ovulation rates are up by 22 per cent. The EverGraze research team - Dr Michael Friend, Dr Susan Robertson, Mr John Broster and Dr Iain Hume - will present the research results at the seminar, “EverGraze - More livestock from perennials”  from 3.30pm on Thursday 28 February in the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute’s conference room, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga.

For interviews contact CSU Media.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga as well as students studying by distance education are expected to attend the inaugural Career’s Fair on Wednesday 27 February. The Fair, to be held on CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus, has attracted 50 exhibitors and public and private sector employers hoping to discuss career options with students studying arts, business, education, health and science. “The Career’s Fair is not just about graduate recruitment,” said CSU careers development officer Mr Paul Worsfold. “The exhibitors are either seeking to recruit students for 2009 or assisting students in their career development well into the future,” Mr Worsfold added. Students can ask about vacation employment and cadetships. The Fair will also offer students workshops on the formalities of applying for jobs. The inaugural event will be held from 11am until 2.30pm in Joyes Hall and nearby Convention Centre. As part of the University’s commitment to provide programs that prepare students for work and citizenship, it’s hoped the Careers Fair will become an annual event across CSU.

 

CSU careers development officer Mr Paul Worsfold is available for interview. Contact CSU Media.